Photo by Franki Chamaki on Unsplash.

PREVIOUSLY: 

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UPDATE - 3:45 P.M. – Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) spokesperson Christine Messinger got back to us: “As of now, we do not have new information about when benefits will be available. We’re hopeful it’s soon.”

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UPDATE - 1:30 P.M. – California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a press statement this afternoon in response to the Trump administration’s announcement to partially reinstate SNAP benefits for November.

In his statement, Bonta criticizes President Donald Trump’s “unlawful” decision to rescind federal food assistance in the first place, adding that “the federal government could fully fund November SNAP benefits if it wanted to.” Read the full statement below.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to the news that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will only be providing partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for the month of November. This morning, in a new legal filing, the Trump Administration wrote the following: “Per orders issued by the United States District Courts for the Districts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, [the Trump Administration] intends to deplete SNAP contingency funds completely and provide reduced SNAP benefits for November 2025.” Last week, Attorney General Bonta co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general and three governors in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the USDA and its Secretary, Brooke Rollins, over the unlawful suspension of November SNAP benefits.

“My fellow attorneys general and I took the Trump Administration to court because they chose to suspend November SNAP benefits. That decision was not only unlawful, as two federal courts ruled on Friday; it has also forced the 42 million individuals who rely on SNAP to scramble and figure out where their next meal is going to come from. Americans of all political persuasions have rightfully been outraged,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This morning, we learned that the Trump Administration has decided, at long last and in the face of growing public pressure, to partially fund November SNAP benefits. This is an important development, but the reality is that SNAP benefits won’t become immediately available to recipients. This lag is problematic and the result of President Trump’s failure to follow the law until ordered to do so. In addition, today’s announcement by the Trump Administration represents a moral failure. We are the richest country in the world, and the federal government could fully fund November SNAP benefits if it wanted to. Recent images and videos of long lines at food pantries nationwide highlight the gravity of the current situation — we must continue to care for those in greatest need. My office remains focused on holding the Trump Administration accountable for its illegal actions.” 

A copy of this morning’s filing by the Trump Administration can be found here.

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Original post: The Trump administration announced Monday that it will send partial SNAP payments to the 42 million low-income Americans who rely on federal food assistance. However, only “50% of eligible households’ current allotments” will be covered, according to a court filing submitted by the Justice Department.

On Friday, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program must be funded using federal contingency funds, despite the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s claim that “the well has run dry” due to the ongoing government shutdown. The judge ordered the administration to provide an update on SNAP benefits on Monday. 

In the filing issued this morning, the Justice Department told the court that it would “fulfill its obligation to expend” money in an emergency account for SNAP to allow states to “calculate the benefits available for each eligible household,” according to The New York Times.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had planned to freeze Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments on Nov. 1. Two dozen states and the District of Columbia sued the federal government in response, arguing that it has billions in contingency funds to keep the federal food assistance program funded through November. SNAP, known as CalFresh here in California, provides monthly food benefits to approximately one in eight Americans, including about 32,000 people here in Humboldt.

The Outpost contacted the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services’ media team this morning to find out what this means for local folks who receive SNAP benefits. We’ll update this post when we hear back.

In the meantime, check out the list of resources below if you or someone you know needs help finding a bite to eat. We’ll do our best to keep this list updated.

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  • Arcata House Partnership has free food at its pantry in Valley West. The nonprofit is in “urgent” need of non-perishable food items. Donations can be taken to Arcata House Partnership’s office at 4677 Valley West Blvd. in Arcata between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday - Friday. More information here.
  • Cal Poly Humboldt students can find groceries and snacks at the OhSNAP! Student Food Pantry in RWC 122. Pantry hours can be found here. Starting the second week of November, students can pick up free meals at the Gutswurrak Student Activities Center. A schedule for meal pick-up will be available here. Students can also receive meal assistance through the university’s Swipe Assistance Program or through emergency grant assistance at this link.
  • Esmeralda’s 2.0 in Eureka will offer a”Good Neighbor Bundle” to SNAP/EBT cardholders. The $10 meal can feed a family of four. Details here.
  • Falafelove in King Salmon is a free meal to anyone who’s hungry. “We will be serving a chicken barley soup at no charge for anyone who asks, no questions asked – until the government shutdown resolves.” Details here.
  • Food for People distributes fresh produce and non-perishable food items at food distribution sites across the county. Type in your zipcode at this link to find a location near you.
  • Food Not Bombs serves free (vegan) hot meals every week in Arcata and Eureka. Meals are served every Sunday at 3 p.m. on Clark Plaza in Old Town Eureka and the Arcata Plaza. Food Not Bombs also provides meals at 4 p.m. on Mondays at Bayshore Way and Broadway in Eureka, near the rear entrance to the Bayshore Mall.
  • The Humboldt Gold Exchange in Eureka is providing free meal bags for children with proof of a SNAP/EBT card. More information can be found here.
  • Los Bagels is offering a free four-pack of bagels at Arcata and Eureka locations. SNAP recipients are limited to one pack of bagels per week, and you must have your SNAP/EBT card and ID on hand. 
  • Old Town Coffee & Chocolates is offering free breakfast at both of its Eureka locations daily from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Just ask for the “special snack.” More information here.
  • St. Vincent de Paul offers free meals Monday -Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its dining facility at 35 W. Third Street. Details here.

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Additional SNAP-related resources: